Research Amsterdam UMC: Coronavirus damages respiratory muscle in seriously ill

A study by the Amsterdam UMC shows that the corona virus is the most important
breathing muscle, the diaphragm. This is the first research into the worldwide
consequences of COVID-19 for the diaphragm.

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According to physiologist Coen Ottenheijm, an inflammatory reaction has been found in the diaphragm
and connective tissue formation occurs in critically ill COVID-19 patients. ‘It is striking that we
in some patients also saw that the virus was in the muscle cells. Some cells were
twenty times larger than normal and others very small, ‘says Ottenheijm. According to him
this means that the diaphragm is probably working hard against the virus.

Persistent complaints

The damage to the diaphragm also plays an important role in convalescent symptoms
patients. For example, these people often suffer from shortness of breath and fatigue.
Breathing does not come naturally. The breathing muscle pumps air in and out of the lungs. If it
diaphragm works less well, shortness of breath follows and limited effort is possible ‘,
explains Ottenheijm.

Artificial ventilation

The study compared twenty-six COVID-19 patients with ten non-COVID
19 patients. All patients had been admitted to intensive care and were on the
respiration. A considerable group of corona patients who end up in the ICU are long-term
depending on the ventilator. This is partly due to the damage to it
diaphragm.

Whether the deterioration of the respiratory muscle also occurs in patients who are not in intensive care
coming has yet to be explored. It is also not known whether the damage sustained will end
duration can recover.

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